2026 NHL Draft Thread

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

If he puts up nearly 2 ppg at his peak, I can live with him not loving puck battles.

Have his linemates be the "warriors"

Thats why I think Reschny has been such a good compliment at U18's and now WJC. Reschny is his Point. Mckenna Reschny Gridin/Coronato would be a lot of fun

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Thats why I think Reschny has been such a good compliment at U18's and now WJC. Reschny is his Point. Mckenna Point Gridin/Coronato would be a lot of fun

Add Parekh, and you might be forecasting the Flames’ 2028 number 1 PP unit.

McKenna, Reschny, Coronato, Gridin, Parekh.

Pretty fun.

[browntrout]

There seems to some momentum that stenburg has surpassed McKenna as the BPA, eye test seems to reinforce that thought process.

Makes you wonder, if Calgary is drafting, and stenburg is gone, and it's between what most people seem to think is a really good number one defenceman in Verhoeff and McKenna, who is a winger, which way does the org go,

At the end of the day I can't see them passing up on McKenna, the optics would be just so bad, and he is Uber talented, something they so desperately need, but with some question marks about his compete level and a absolute stud of a defenseman in Verhoeff available......boy oh boy...that is one epically tough decision to make

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by browntrout

There seems to some momentum that stenburg has surpassed McKenna as the BPA, eye test seems to reinforce that thought process.

Makes you wonder, if Calgary is drafting, and stenburg is gone, and it's between what most people seem to think is a really good number one defenceman in Verhoeff and McKenna, who is a winger, which way does the org go,

At the end of the day I can't see them passing up on McKenna, the optics would be just so bad, and he is Uber talented, something they so desperately need, but with some question marks about his compete level and a absolute stud of a defenseman in Verhoeff available......boy oh boy...that is one epically tough decision to make

I take Vaerhoff ten out if ten times in that scenario.

Who has more impact on a game a stud number one defenceman or a average sized winger with commitment questions ?

For mckenna to offer more to a team than Vaerhoff he would have to be one if the top three wingers in the game. I dont see that in him i see an offense only player.

[Monahammer]

I dont see what people see in Verhoeff at all.

Hes been bigger than his peers fir a while and I dont think its done him favors.

[devo22]

if it's between McKenna and Verhoeff, I still sprint to the podium to take McKenna. And I really like Verhoeff.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Fan69

I take Vaerhoff ten out if ten times in that scenario.

Who has more impact on a game a stud number one defenceman or a average sized winger with commitment questions ?

For mckenna to offer more to a team than Vaerhoff he would have to be one if the top three wingers in the game. I dont see that in him i see an offense only player.

You're Comparing Verhoeff's top end to McKenna's bottom end.

McKenna has Patrick Kane or Nikita Kucherov upside, he's been that dominant offensively throughout his junior career. He has the potential to be a top three winger. At worst he's probably a really good winger that puts up some P/PG seasons.

Verhoeff might be a stud number 1 d-man, but there is risk he's more of just a big second pair type of guy.

If both guys hit their top end potential I still think I take McKenna because this team lacks that top end elite offensive talent

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

https://twitter.com/user/status/2009381280035537158

Buffalo is a happening place!

[Sandman]

The Ruck twins have decided to go on a scoring rampage the last little while. Liam is up to 56 points in 39 games (21 goals), and Markus is at 54 in 39 (9 goals).

Markus has 29 points in his last 15, while Liam has 32 points in 14 games since his appearance in the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge.

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by Fan69

I take Vaerhoff ten out if ten times in that scenario.

Who has more impact on a game a stud number one defenceman or a average sized winger with commitment questions ?

For mckenna to offer more to a team than Vaerhoff he would have to be one if the top three wingers in the game. I dont see that in him i see an offense only player.

Yes, between the two, I'd take Vaerhoff. However, I'd take Lawrence before either of them. We need a centre.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Sandman

The Ruck twins have decided to go on a scoring rampage the last little while. Liam is up to 56 points in 39 games (21 goals), and Markus is at 54 in 39 (9 goals).

Markus has 29 points in his last 15, while Liam has 32 points in 14 games since his appearance in the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge.

If Connie gets another first in this draft, I wonder if he gets himself into back to back picks to select the twins.

[CKPThunder]

Can someone explain to me the fascination with Lawrence? I may be biased but in my uninformed analysis, he still looks like Backlund to me. Are there intangibles to his game that I don't see that puts him above McKenna? Is the USHL that much a better league than the WHL? I am totally fine with taking Lawrence if the Flames decide he's the best player for the team but I'm still struggling to see what makes Lawrence a better pick over McKenna? Is it position? Hopefully that isn't the only reason. Where would Lawrence be ranked if this was going into the 2025 draft that was loaded with centers? How would he rank? Would he still be ranked 4th? Top10? Top 20?

I don't want the Flames to take Lawrence cause he's a center only. I just don't know what intangibles Lawrence has over McKenna that tips the scales in his direction.

[Aarongavey]

Gavin McKenna back at it at Penn State. No points last night although Misa got a goal and an assist. Just another night for Flames pick Wyttenbach with a goal and two assists.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by CKPThunder

Can someone explain to me the fascination with Lawrence? I may be biased but in my uninformed analysis, he still looks like Backlund to me. Are there intangibles to his game that I don't see that puts him above McKenna? Is the USHL that much a better league than the WHL? I am totally fine with taking Lawrence if the Flames decide he's the best player for the team but I'm still struggling to see what makes Lawrence a better pick over McKenna? Is it position? Hopefully that isn't the only reason. Where would Lawrence be ranked if this was going into the 2025 draft that was loaded with centers? How would he rank? Would he still be ranked 4th? Top10? Top 20?

I don't want the Flames to take Lawrence cause he's a center only. I just don't know what intangibles Lawrence has over McKenna that tips the scales in his direction.

From my perspective i have him about the same as Frondell last year. Would take him over Desnoyer for example.

What does he bring? Unlike Backs a non stop motor. High end but not elite shot. Better skater than Backs roughly the same frame. Like Backs he is a 200 foot player, detail oriented and coaches trust him on the ice. He seems to be a gamer when the going gets tough.


Do i see a 100 point player? No. Do i see a consistent 60 to 70 point guy who you use in every situation whether its looking to lead or try to keep one and can be put with any goal scoring winger? Yup.

Ryan Oreilly is a career i see as comparable. Not elite but paired with the right guys can be lethal. Actually Conroy himself would be a good comparison, not elite but driven and detailed.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Fan69

From my perspective i have him about the same as Frondell last year. Would take him over Desnoyer for example.

What does he bring? Unlike Backs a non stop motor. High end but not elite shot. Better skater than Backs roughly the same frame. Like Backs he is a 200 foot player, detail oriented and coaches trust him on the ice. He seems to be a gamer when the going gets tough.


Do i see a 100 point player? No. Do i see a consistent 60 to 70 point guy who you use in every situation whether its looking to lead or try to keep one and can be put with any goal scoring winger? Yup.

Ryan Oreilly is a career i see as comparable. Not elite but paired with the right guys can be lethal. Actually Conroy himself would be a good comparison, not elite but driven and detailed.

He reminds me a lot stylistically of Celebrini in college. Not necessarily the flashiest player but seems to make the right play and be strong on both ends of the ice. I doubt he explodes like Macklin has but that Nick Suzuki style would be a great piece

[CKPThunder]

Originally Posted by Fan69

From my perspective i have him about the same as Frondell last year. Would take him over Desnoyer for example.

What does he bring? Unlike Backs a non stop motor. High end but not elite shot. Better skater than Backs roughly the same frame. Like Backs he is a 200 foot player, detail oriented and coaches trust him on the ice. He seems to be a gamer when the going gets tough.


Do i see a 100 point player? No. Do i see a consistent 60 to 70 point guy who you use in every situation whether its looking to lead or try to keep one and can be put with any goal scoring winger? Yup.

Ryan Oreilly is a career i see as comparable. Not elite but paired with the right guys can be lethal. Actually Conroy himself would be a good comparison, not elite but driven and detailed.

Appreciate the message Fan.

Wasn't Backlund similar to this when he was younger? A very good skating, 2 way center with high IQ and a good shot? Backlund did win fastest skater and hardest shot for the Flames in their skills test like 10 years ago.

So my question now is do you want to use a top 4 pick on a center that may produce what Kadri is doing now? We lament that Kadri isn't a number one center so do we want to use a top 4 pick for a center with second line ceiling?

Wouldn't the Flames be better to draft someone with top line skills? Be it Stenberg, McKenna or Verhoeff?

I've been wondering about this since Lawrence started rising and I am having a hard time seeing a number 1 center in him and I was hoping to fill in my lack knowledge with more info that would help me see more clearly.

As an extreme example. I don't want to be drafting a Kotkaniemi cause he is a center and pass over a winger (Tkachuk) or a defenceman (Hughes) just cause we are desperate for a center. Lawrence looks like a safe center pick.

Conversely the Jackets to a high risk center (Lindstrom) due to health over healthier wingers in Demidov and Iginla. So in some cases, maybe the safer pick is the better one.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by devo22

if it's between McKenna and Verhoeff, I still sprint to the podium to take McKenna. And I really like Verhoeff.

For me it comes down to organizational need.

Organizationally, defense is a position of strength for them right now.

Whereas we have no bonafide top line forwards.

Part of me wouldn't mind us drafting 3rd so that the wingers are no longer an option and we take the top center, because while McKenna is an exception to the rule, building from C and D out is a pretty tried and true blueprint.

[XeO]

Gavin McKenna indicates his desire to become a Calgary Flame

According to Pat Steinberg via the Flames Talk podcast, he mentions how he’s heard that McKenna expressed the desire to become a Flame and would happily embrace the opportunity to play in the organization if that opportunity arose.

https://thewincolumn.ca/2026/01/10/r...calgary-flame/

[saillias]

If he wants to be a Flame so bad he should threaten the other teams at the draft with the NCAA loophole

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by CKPThunder

Appreciate the message Fan.

Wasn't Backlund similar to this when he was younger? A very good skating, 2 way center with high IQ and a good shot? Backlund did win fastest skater and hardest shot for the Flames in their skills test like 10 years ago.

So my question now is do you want to use a top 4 pick on a center that may produce what Kadri is doing now? We lament that Kadri isn't a number one center so do we want to use a top 4 pick for a center with second line ceiling?

Wouldn't the Flames be better to draft someone with top line skills? Be it Stenberg, McKenna or Verhoeff?

I've been wondering about this since Lawrence started rising and I am having a hard time seeing a number 1 center in him and I was hoping to fill in my lack knowledge with more info that would help me see more clearly.

As an extreme example. I don't want to be drafting a Kotkaniemi cause he is a center and pass over a winger (Tkachuk) or a defenceman (Hughes) just cause we are desperate for a center. Lawrence looks like a safe center pick.

Conversely the Jackets to a high risk center (Lindstrom) due to health over healthier wingers in Demidov and Iginla. So in some cases, maybe the safer pick is the better one.

To me thats a discussion you have with all the scouts.


Stenberg is already playing in a pro league, point per game as a kid. He is no 1.
Vaerhoff may he a stud top line defender, college results are good not spectacular. Game in game out he does more to help win than anything but a first line center.
Mckenna huge offensive talent more limited role on ice purely offensive player. I have him one step ahead of Lawrence at 4 just because of the gaudy numbers, currently just over s point s game good not spectacular.

Lawrence best center in the draft. Good shot, great motor, complete game.

In my mind wingers are the least influential position in hockey only reason i have stenberg one is track record currently. So that means both wingers would have to be some of the best in the game to have the same impact as a top pair defender or top line center which Keaton and Lawrence have the tools to be.

Personally don’t believe a top line center is ever a bad pick unless its matched against a top pair defender. Stenberg has the track record to say point per game player, mckenna has the jr results to say top line player.

If vaerhoff bombs he may be a mid pair defender. If lawrence bombs middle six center. If the wingers bomb they become average sized middle six to top six wingers. To me thats the discussion.

Big mid pair defender still a good commodity. Mid to top six center very good commodity. Mid six wingers moderate commodity.

Kadri to me is a low end first line center. If lawrence ends up a responsible low end first line center in the top of the draft with poor center depth thats a win. Especially on a team that has as poor a center depth as we have.

Mckenna will be a very good offensive winger. Stenberg all around top line winger. Great pieces harder to build around and the thing we need the least.
Every team can use a big stud defenseman, and every team can use a top six centre this year seems to be proving that in spades.

For team needs i would have zero problem pick the defender or center even first. If the scouts think Reid is better than Vaerhoff take him first.